Mercedes-Benz has taken to electrification like no other automaker. Audi comes a close second, but Mercedes is operating on a whole different level. The German marque has made sure it has offerings in every mass-market segment in the shortest time possible. Sometime last year, the automaker revealed five new vehicles in one auto show – the EQE sedan, the EQB crossover, the EQG Concept, the Maybach EQS SUV, and the AMG EQS. Then Mercedes followed it up with the Vision EQXX Concept and the AMG EQE

Without taking a break whatsoever, the automaker has now come up with the EQS SUV (the non-Maybach version). As the name suggests, it is the SUV version of the EQS sedan. It shares the same wheelbase, but is more spacious and comes with better cargo capacity. It will be offered in two trims – 450+ and 580 4MATIC – the latter being a 536-horsepower, all-wheel-drive version. With a range of up to 373 miles and a 56-inch Hyperscreen on offer, the Mercedes EQS might be an electric SUV that you can’t ignore!

How Is The Mercedes EQS On The Outside?

Well, the EQS SUV is the SUV version of the sedan. So, you can expect the same level of luxury and premium feels, but in a bigger, more spacious package. Even the trim levels that you get here are the same as the sedan. The EQS SUV will be offered in two models – the 480+ and the 580.

The EQS SUV has the typical EQ-product traits when it comes to aesthetics. You get the black panel grille up front. The headlights are connected by a light band and a black radiator grille. The Mercedes logo used here is the same as the original star that was registered in 1911. The EQ range has been using this logo lately.

The SUV is far from boxy and that’s to maintain its aerodynamic efficiency. The drag coefficient rating isn’t disclosed, but it won’t be too far off from the EQS sedan’s 0.20 rating. The SUV with the best coefficient of drag currently is the Tesla Model X – 0.25. The EQS SUV rides on 20- or 21-inch wheels, depending on the trim you choose. There are other SUV characteristics like the black wheel-arch claddings, muscular shoulder section, etc.

Things at the rear aren’t boring either. The curvy derriere features taillights on either end that are connected by a bar that runs the entire width. The bumper features chrome elements that add some sporty vibes. Overall, the EQS SUV isn’t too loud, but it isn’t too plain-Jane either. Some may like it, some not, but that said, it won’t draw extreme polarizing opinions.

In terms of dimensions, it shares the same 126.4-inch wheelbase as the EQS sedan. The SUV is 201.8 inches long, 77.1 inches wide, and 67.6 inches tall.

How Is The Mercedes EQS On The Inside?

The cabin bears a resemblance to the EQS and the EQE sedans. The highlight, of course, is the massive 56-inch Hyperscreen that’s standard on the 580. This is basically three screens combined to form one huge screen. You get a 17.7-inch OLED display in the middle that serves as your primary touchscreen infotainment system. There’s a 12.3-inch touchscreen on the passenger side that lets you play with the audio and navigation. And, the third screen is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster placed behind the steering wheel. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.

The EQS SUV will come with two rows as standard, but you can opt for the third row with two seats additionally. With all the seats in place, you’ll have 6.8 cubic feet of space in the three-row SUV. Flip down the third row and there is 28.2 cubic feet of space on offer. Fold the second row as well and you’ll have 71.3 cubic feet of space available at your disposal. This is a little less than the two-row version, which offers 74.2 cubic feet of space when you fold the second row. For convenience, the second row can be adjusted electrically and have a 40:20:40 split ratio.

Some creature comforts with respect to seating include:

- Ambient lighting on seat including contour lighting

- Four-way lumbar support

- Heated seats

- Luxury headrest

- Ventilated seats

- Rear armrests

Multicontour seats with massage function and heated seats in the second- and third-row are optional.

What Powers The Mercedes EQS?

As mentioned earlier, the Mercedes EQS will be offered in two variants – the 450+ and the 580.

The 450+ features a single motor, mounted on the rear axle. It puts out 355 horses and 419 pound-feet of torque. Obviously, power is channeled only to the rear wheels.

The 580, on the other hand, comes with two electric motors. They churn out 536 ponies and 633 pound-feet of twist, combined.

Mercedes has not listed the 0-60 mph times, but we expect it to be nearly identical to the EQS sedan’s. The EQS sedan makes less power (329 horses/417 pound-feet and 516 horses/631 pound-feet), but is also lighter. The extra power will offset the extra weight on the SUV, which could result in very similar 0-60 mph times. For your reference, the EQS sedan 450+ takes 5.9 seconds to 60 mph from a standstill, whereas the 580 takes 4.1 seconds.

The EQS SUV also comes with an AirMatic air suspension and rear-wheel steering that can tilt up to 10 degrees.

What Is The Range, Charging Time, etc. On The Mercedes EQS?

The EQS SUV draws power from a 107.8 kWh battery pack. This, according to Mercedes, is good for up to 373 miles of range (600 kms). But, it must be noted that these are estimations based on the WLTP cycle. Expect the EPA ratings to be a shade under 350 miles.

The automaker mentioned that the EQS SUV supports DC fast-charging up to 200 kW. This means the SUV can be charged from 10- to 80-percent in 31 minutes. When plugged into a three-phase, 9.6 kW AC point, the battery will recuperate in 11.25 hours. It will also come with a 9.6 kW onboard charger.

Conclusion

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS will arrive in the summer of 2022. The German automaker hasn’t revealed the pricing, but we expect it to be priced a little higher than the EQS sedan. The EQS sedan 480 starts at $102,310 and the 580 at $125,900. The exact pricing should be revealed in the coming months.